JIM SPENDLOVE

Lecturer – BA (Hons) Illustration for Commercial Application, BA (Hons) Games Art

Qualifications – BA (Hons)

Jim is an experienced illustrator who has collaborated with a diverse range of clients across Europe and the US, including prominent online music platforms and record labels. His portfolio includes regular contributions to Lofi Girl, Chillhop Records, Splice, and numerous independent artists worldwide. Beyond the music industry, Jim’s expertise extends to working with breweries, web designers, researchers and galleries. His work has been featured in publications such as Now Then and Exposed Magazine.

In 2022, Jim was invited to Domestika’s London studios to create an online course focusing on illustration and animation techniques using Procreate. The course has since attracted over 2,000 students, reflecting Jim’s growing influence in the field. He continues to share his expertise through workshops and 1:1 mentoring, inspiring artists in schools, studios and beyond.

Jim’s recent projects include a 2023 collaboration with researchers at Northumbria University, where he created a series of illustrations documenting forage availability for pollinators in Newcastle. This project was show cased at the Shieldfield Artworks Takeover 2023 and has since been featured in events at the Great North Museum, and across 18 billboards in Dundee as part of Sharing Not Hoarding in 2024.

Jim’s artistic style is rooted in line drawing, using both digital and traditional techniques. He often combines ink and ink wash with digital tools to add colour, texture, and animation to his work. He has expertise in using software such as Adobe suite and Procreate. Alongside his role in higher education, Jim continues to cultivate his freelance illustration practice.

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